Pre-and post-operation evaluation on right ventricular systolic function in tetralogy of Fallot patients with real-time three-dimensional echocardiography

Objective To evaluate right ventricular systolic function pre-and post-operation in tetralogy of Fallot(TOF) patients with real time three dimensional echocardiography(RT-3DE).Methods Twenty-nine children with TOF underwent RT-3DE.Right ventricular end diastolic volume(RVEDV) and end systolic volume(RVESV) were outlined by the analysis software of RT-3DE,and right ventricular ejection fraction(RVEF) was calculated 1 week and 6 months after operation.Results RVEF was 50% lower in 41.38%(12/29) patients with TOF pre-operation.RVESV increased while RVEF decreased 1 week after operation.Six months afer operation,RVESV and RVESV increased while RVEF decreased compared with pre-operation.The right ventricular volume curve(RVVC) flattened and systolic peak delayed in RT-3DE with RVEF decreasing.Conclusion RT-3DE can be used as an accurate,fast method to determine right ventricular volume and function in TOF patients pre-and post-operation.